Voorheen De Gemeente – SUPPORT STRUCTURE (2024)
Read more about the overarching show Gemeentegoed on the website of VHDG.
Read about the previous research and residency at VHDG.
Type: Art installation
Concept: SMET (Setareh Noorani and Matt Plezier)
Technical support: Jelmer Teunissen
Client: VHDG
Build: VHDG team
Photography: David Vroom
Support Structure combines graphic art and architectural elements to create a social structure. SMET is interested in how architectural interventions in existing buildings and interventions in spatial design can make private and public space accessible to a group or community that previously had no access to these places.
The design of buildings and the layout of public spaces testify to a value system and is always ideologically charged. A building may serve to enhance individual comfort. A spatial layout can serve to speed up economic circulation. In SMET’s practice, they pose the question: how can a building or spatial intervention represent another value system, a value system based on solidarity and commonality?
Support Structure brings the art project in Heechterp back to life. Not in a literal sense, but rather as a model of their practice. An architectural intervention by Setareh Noorani in the space that serves the exhibition visitors and the Leeuwarder community.
This structure is the support for Lu Lin’s artwork, Matt Plezier’s graphic work and SMET’s works on canvas together, which use found material to rearrange unheard stories and perspectives about Leeuwarden and the Heechterp district, into a new historical image bank, artistic interpretation and communal archive. A co-creation that is open for free use.
Support Structure continues the work of Nimmenslân / No Man’s land. This was created in collaboration with employees of Elkien, Amaryllis, the volunteers of the Bewonersbedrijf Heechterp, and Wijkcentrum Heechterp-Schieringen. Additionally, there was collaboration with MBO Aeres & Primary School ICK de Plantaan. The project featured artistic contributions from artists Johan in ‘t Hout, Philippa Driest, architect Jelmer Teunissen, and historian Siep van Linge.